I believe students of all ages benefit from having someone in their corner to support and encourage them. I enjoy seeing students grow academically and in their confidence to teach students.
Shannon Manley, Ed.D. Clinical Instructor and East Texas Center Coordinator
- Alum
- Faculty
Dr. Shannon Manley is a native of Greenville, Texas. She began her academic journey at an out-of-state private university but transferred back home to A&M-Commerce after two years to earn two degrees that helped her prepare for her career at a more affordable cost.
Manley emphasizes the importance of making the most of the A&M-Commerce experience and encourages students to get involved and make connections with faculty and peers. She believes investing in the local community is incredibly rewarding.
Although she spent most of her 19 years of classroom experience teaching second and third grade, she made the switch to teach sixth-grade math and found it to be one of the best decisions in her career. She was involved in several extracurricular activities, including coaching a Destination Imagination team, which taught her the importance of multi-tasking, building relationships, and integrating authentic STEAM activities into her students’ education.
She pursued her master’s degree at A&M-Commerce to become a more effective teacher for her students. She leaped at the opportunity to work as an adjunct when a position opened within the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Manley went on to earn her doctorate in curriculum and instruction and now guides teacher candidates in their educational journeys. Her research focuses on the professional development experiences of math teachers in grades K-5.
Manley encourages students at all levels to work toward achieving their goals and emphasizes the importance of reflection and growth for educators. She suggests that students communicate with their instructors, participate in student organizations, and apply for scholarships.
A Conversation with Dr. Manley
What would you tell a student who is thinking about attending A&M-Commerce?
As an A&M-Commerce graduate, I believe this is a great university with something for everyone. I graduated from A&M-Commerce with both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. There are many opportunities to get involved with student organizations and extracurricular activities that will enhance your college experience.
What draws you to your discipline?
Education has always been my passion. I have 19 years of classroom teaching experience right here in Hunt County. This experience has given me a strong foundation to support teacher candidates in their pre-service courses and field experiences. I believe students of all ages benefit from having someone in their corner to support and encourage them. I enjoy seeing students grow academically and in their confidence to teach students. The field of education enables educators to reach out and support those students who need it most and allows us to make a positive, lasting impact on students.
What has been your favorite course to teach?
My favorite course to teach is Introduction to Teaching, ELED 300, which is the introductory teaching course for EC-6 and 4-8 teacher candidates. This course involves field experience hours, lesson planning, classroom climate, instructional models, technology, assessment and knowledge of students. Students learn A LOT in this course and can apply some of their new knowledge in the field with actively engaged activities. This course is my favorite because the students who take it come in with a true passion for educating students and are eager to begin their teaching careers. Often, these students continue their internship and student teaching residency in my center so I can work with them again. I love seeing their growth from ELED 300 to Internship and their continued passion for making a difference.
Tell us about a project you are currently working on or recently completed.
I am working with a group of undergraduate students and our local Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) chapter to build the Delta Kappa Gamma Commerce Collegiate chapter student organization for key women educators! This is an exciting project for many reasons. DKG is an international organization with state organizations built within. Our local DKG chapter, Beta Lambda, is a group of current and retired educators from the Hunt County area. Many members are previous and current A&M-Commerce staff, faculty members, and alumni. These current and retired educators partner with our collegiate members to provide mentoring and support as they navigate through our teacher education program. Current students also have the opportunity to meet other students in various stages of the program and get support and encouragement as they work toward teacher certification. Our collegiate chapter is part of the local chapter and is the first of its kind in the DKG international organization. Undergraduate and graduate students can join DKG Commerce Collegiate and apply for scholarships and grants.
Educational Background
- Ed.D., Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Walden University, 2022
- M.Ed., Elementary Education, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2010
- B.S., Business Administration, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2001
Research Interests
- Literacy
- Pre-Service teacher training
- Effective mathematics instruction